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TLifc'5> 

i[>£c£iKssmi£;D 

CIBRARY OB CONGRESS 

FAC. File No. ^60 

OCT _ G 1961 

AUIHORIIY; i //•, a .»?. /r /’ ^ 

B^ il ^ f / 

WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Washington, October 29, 1918. 

The following pamphlet, entitled “Manual for Balloon 
Cutters,” is published for the information and guidance of all 
concerned. 

(062.1 A. G. 0.) 

By Order of the Secretary of War; 

PEYTON C. MARCH, 

General, Chief of Staff. 

Official: 

P. C. HARRIS, 

The Adjutant General. 





% 






i ■ . / 

' / ■ . / 



\ 

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t 

; "' 




TABLE OF CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Introduction. 4 

Manual for balloon cutters. 5 

Chapter I.—Description of balloons. 5 

Elongated balloons. 5 

Exterior details of the envelope. 5 

Interior details. 11 

Different types of elongated balloons.... 12 

Balloon L. 12 

Balloon M . 13 

Balloon R. 14 

Balloons P and P 2 . 15 

Balloons used for different purposes. 16 

Balloon N. 16 

Balloon S. 16 

Balloon T. 16 

,Types G and H. 16 

Balloons with an expanding envelope... 18 

Fabrics used. 18 

Chapter II.—Maintenance of balloons. 20 

I. General principles;. 20 

II. Maintenance of the balloon in the 

field. 20 

III. Maintenance of the packed balloon.. 21 

IV. Balloon inspection. 21 

Chapter III.—Balloon repairs. 23 

I. Gluing. 23 

II. Stitching. 24 

A. The balloon which is not inflated.... 27 

B. The inflated balloon. 28 

C. Varnished fabric. 29 

Chapter IV.—Parachutes. 30 

I. Description. 30 

II. Fabrics used. 32 

III. Maintenance. 32 

IV. Repairs. 32 

Chapter V. 33 

I. Miscellaneous materiel. 33 

11. Materiel used for inflation. 33 

III. Materiel for use in the field. 34 

IV. Materiel for making the ascension... 38 


3 







































LNTRODUCTION. 

The cutter specialists of the balloon troops have general 
supervision over the repairs and maintenance of all the fabric 
materiel. 

The object of the present handbook is to teach them: 

First .—To become well acquainted with the materiel with 
which they have to deal. 

Second .—To keep it in good working order in the field. 

Third .—To repair it properly. ' 

It will serve as a basis of the theoretical instruction given 
in the field to students who are studying to become specialists. 
This theoretical instruction is given during periods of inaction. 

It will be found equally useful to the balloon officers. 

As they are responsible for the materiel and as it is their 
duty to direct constantly and in the most minute details the 
work of all the specialists under their command, they will 
find in this book a quick and accurate work of reference on 
all the different details of practical execution. 

A supplement, especially intended for them, completes this 
book. It contains more detailed information about the prin¬ 
cipal questions under discussion and especially about the raw 
materials and the methods of construction. 



4 


MANUAL FOR BALLOON CUTTERS 


CHAPTER I. 

DESCRIPTION OF BALLOONS. 


Balloons are divided into two large classes: 

Balloons carrying personnel. 

Balloons for different purposes. 

They belong to one of two models: 

1. Elongated balloons (only used in the service). 

2. Spherical balloons (now used only to make free ascen¬ 
sions). 

We shall first describe the elongated balloons, then the 
spherical ones. 


ELONGATED BALLOONS. 

The essential parts of the elongated balloons are: 

1. The so-called envelope of the balloon. 

2. An inner ballonet, which is made for the purpose of 
keeping the form of the balloon. 

•3. An automatic valve, which is to prevent an excessive 
pressure on the inside. 

The models marked with the letters L, M, N, P, R, S, T, 
G and H belong to this type. 

Type M (models H and G, types of German origin, which 
"e no longer used by the French Army,i will be summarily 
scribed later). 


. EXTERIOR DETAILS OF THE ENVELOPE. 

(a) The Rudder (figure 2),—The rudder is composed of 
three pneumatic pads. The exterior part of each pad is at¬ 
tached to the envelope by two sets of interior triangular ropes. 
The manner of attaching these ropes varies according to the 
type. 


1 Except the type G used as a target balloon. 


5 




Figux*e 1. 
Form. 


The elongated balloons have the form of a continuous keel, 
having the midship frame toward the first quarter (figure 1). 


6 


















The lower pad receives the air either through a deflating 
sleeve or through an orifice communicating with the ballonet. 

The upper pads receive 
the air from the lower 
pad through two inlets 
or through an inner 
tube situated in the 
back part of the keel. 
The balloon is deflated 
by means of special ori¬ 
fices (deflating sleeves 
of coups de poing), 
placed, in the back part 
and by deflating cords 
attached to the exterior 
of the pads by means of 
cross bracings of fabric 
fastened in three layers. 
The dimensions of the 
openings are such that 
a man can pass through 
them. On the lower pad an eyelet facilitates the folding of the 
balloon by permitting the air to escape. On the upper pads 
two draining eyelets assure the drainage of rain water and 
a reenforced circular orifice permits the air to escape when 
the balloon is collapsed. 

(h) The Rigging Band .—The rigging 
band, upon which the rigging systern 
rests, is composed of a structure made of 
double fabric (2 thicknesses fastened to¬ 
gether (o a') folded around the toggle 
(?)). The surface on which the toggle 
rests is provided with a belt of one-ply 
fabric, fastened the whole length of the 
surface. 

The rigging band is glued and sewn 
with three stitches on the previously re¬ 
enforced part of the keel (h) a little be¬ 
low the equator. The stitches are made 
airtight on both sides {d d'). 

The lower part of this reenforced 
section is perforated with small elliptical 
perforations of about 0.035 m. by 0.010 ni., 
permitting the line, which is attached to 
the toggle, to pass through. It has eyelets 
for lacing placed on both sides of the tog¬ 
gle in such a way that they restrict with¬ 
out preventing its movements. 

(c) Bagging down net (figure 4).—A 
net of bands, with large meshes, which is 
to tie down the balloon, is attached to the 
upper part and has, at the top, on the 
exterior, metallic rings provided with 
ropes to which the bedding down ropes are attached, 

7 



Figure 8 

































Figure 4. 

A and B.—Detail of the 
Structure of the Belt. 

The net is fastened 
in two coatings and cov¬ 
ered with a band of 
single-ply fabric fasten¬ 
ed in two coatings up 
to about 10 centimeters 
from the rings. 


(d) Ring of the valve 
(figure 5).—The ring 
of the valve is a cir¬ 
cular reenforcement of 
the opening of the valve 
and consists of two 
washers (a a') 2 thick¬ 
nesses of d o u b 1 e-p 1 y 
fabric fastened down 
and having an internal 
diameter equal to that 
of the opening. These 
two washers fastened, 
one on the interior and 
the other on the exte¬ 
rior, are attached to 
the envelope (B) by 
means of five concentric Figure 6. 

stitches (c) airtight on 

both sides (d d'). The ring is perforated with 12 perforations, 
which are made for the fastening bolts of the valve. 

(e) Inlet (figure 6).—The inlet is inserted in the ellipti¬ 
cal orifice, made for this purpose, by means of an enlargement 
obtained through indentations (a a') which are fastened 
(glued) to the inner surface of the envelope (B) and which 
are secured by two stitches (c), airtight on both sides. The 





8 


























































































orifice has previously 
^ been reenforced by a 
pad (&) made by a strap 

- of tape inserted in a 

washer of double-ply 
\ u fabric doubled upon it. 
When the inlet is 
closed, it is inserted in¬ 
to the orifice, where it 
is held by a disk of 
rubberized fabric, 
buckled by lacings, on 
the circumference of the 
orifice. 

(/) Sleeves (figure 
7). — The sleeves are 
three in number: 

One for the control 
of the ripping. 

One for the hand con¬ 
trol of the valve. 


One for the re¬ 
turn of the auto¬ 
matic control. 

They consist of 
a grooved tube T, 
ending in a splay. 
This tube is in¬ 
serted in a small 
“chimney” of fab¬ 
ric (a), the base 
of which serves as 
a seat of the 
splay. 

The part thus 
fitted in is insert¬ 
ed either by force 
through a small 
orifice or through 
a radial orifice 
and fastened by 
the base to the 
inner surface of 
the envelope (B). 
The tightness is 
assured by two 
washers of single- 
ply fabric (d d'), 
of a different 
diameter, super¬ 
imposed and 
fastened (glued) 
to the interior. It 
has a safety de¬ 
vice consisting of 


A 



9 


































a ring placed in two cross bracings (made of a band of fabric 
rolled and overcast) attached to the balloon by means of a disk 
of double fabric fastened down and having two coatings, upon 
which the cross bracings are sewn (the sleeves of a less recent 
model are of wood or horn). 

(p) Deflating sleeves .—The air enters the ballonet or rud¬ 
der, according to the type, through an elliptical orifice edged 
by a pad similar to that of the inflating orifice. 

The deflating sleeve proper, through which the air enters, 
is in the shape of a half cup. It is composed of the same fabric 
as the part upon which it is fitted (one-ply for the rudder, 
double for the balloon). 

It is fitted: 

(a) On the circumference with glue and two seams, air¬ 
tight on both sides. 

(&) At its two rectangular extremities (figure 8) by means 
of two disks of fabric {a a') split along a radius and fastened 
respectively: 



On each surface of 
the deflating sleeve 
along a sector of 
90°. 

On the outer sur¬ 
face of the envelope 
along the remaining 
surface. 

It is fastened by 
two stitches (c) air¬ 
tight (d) on the ex¬ 
terior. 

The face exposeid 
to the wind is reen¬ 
forced by a band of 
triple special fabric 
or, in the most re¬ 
cent models, by an 
air chamber enclosed 
in a band of one-ply fabric, glued or stitched along the length 
of this face. 



Figure 8. 


10 
















(h) Wmdoios (figure 9).—The interior parts of the 
machinery can be seen through windows, the number of which 
vary according to the types. They consist of a disk of trans¬ 
parent material (a) fastened between two aluminum washers 
(J) h') and joined by bolts. 

To insert them an opening is made at a place in the en¬ 
velope (b), previously reenforced by a washer of double fabric 
(e), fastened on the inside. The diameter of the opening is 
equal to the internal diameter of the metallic washers. 
Assembling bolts are placed around the passage holes. The 
tightness is assured by rubber washers (/) inserted between 
the fabric and the washer fitted on the inside and a large 
washer of one-ply fabric glued on the surface. 



(i) Exterior arrangements of the ripping. 

In the upper 
part of the bal¬ 
loon, near the 
main frame, 
elliptical open¬ 
ings are made, 
edged with 
cords, against 
which the rip¬ 
ping panel of 
the ripping is 
placed and 
which allows 
the gas to es¬ 
cape when the 
panel is torn 
(see figure 4). 

An eyelet made 
in the lower 
part assures 
the drainage of 
the rain water 
to the types, 
panel. 


Figure 9. 

These openings vary in number according 
They are distributed at the ratio of two in each 


INTERIOR DETAILS. 

(;■) The ripping panel .—The ripping panel is of double 
fabric. It is placed over the openings described above and 
forms a fiap valve. At the end of it is an eyelet and a toggle 
on which the fabric is doubled and fastened by three seams. 

It is glued and sewed on the inner surface of the envelope 
(using a special seam, three stitches to a centimeter), air¬ 
tight on both sides. 

(7c) Ballonet .—The ballonet, made of double-ply fabric, has 
on the external surface of its upper part, called “diaphragme,” 
a system for fitting the automatic valve control, which varies 


11 
































according to the types (bands or rings). The air enters, ac¬ 
cording to the types, hither through a deflating sleeve or 
through an orifice communicating with the rudder. An eyelet 
facilitates the escape of the air. 

(0 The top valve (figure 10).—The top valve, to which 
the valve cone of the return of the automatic control is at¬ 
tached, consists of a ring forming a circular discontinuous 
rigging band, which supports 8 toggles. This rigging band, 
made of a double fabric, is doubled again around the toggle 
and covered on the inside with one-ply fabric and is glued to 
the inner surface of the envelope and stitched by three con¬ 
centric seams, airtight on both sides. 



Straight Flap. Flap Sewed Down. 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ELONGATED BALLOONS. 

Certain balloons, which have slight variations from the 
characteristic types given here, are to be found in use. These 
differences arise either through attempts at modification or 
through details introduced by the manufacturer. 

BALLOON L. 

Balloon L, the first application of the principle upon 
which the elongated French balloons are constructed, has 
special characteristics. Moreover, it is no longer used in the 
service. 

Dimensions: Length, 24 meters. Diameter (at the main 
frame), 8 meters. 


12 























Rudder .—Consists of a single pad which entirely covers 
the rear part of the balloon on a longitudinal plan. The inner 
ropes are attached, by means of a rigging band, made of two 
thicknesses of double fabric doubled again on the toggle. This 
rigging band is glued and sewed (by four seams, airtight on 
both sides), to the fabrics of the balloon and ballonet. 



The balloon is inflated by means of a deflating sleeve 
situated in the lower part of the balloon and two deflating 
sleeves on the sides of the pad, at the height of the axis. 

Inlet .—In the front. 

Valve collar .—On the right side, towards the rear, about 
2 meters above the rigging band. 

Ripping .—Eight holes for 4 panels. 

Ballonet .—In the rear. The air enters by means of an 
oriflce communicating with the rudder. 

The automatic control is fastened by means of four bands 
of straps (0.055 m. wide and 0.027 m. long), sewed with a 
saddler’s stitch on 0.10 m, of both sides with a ring 0.035 m. 
high, which the thread enters. The seams are airtight on the 
inside and the outside. 

False Valve .—On the left side, symmetrical with the valve 
collar, in a longitudinal plane. 

Windows. —Two, one for the balloon, one for the ballonet. 

BALLOON M (see figure 1). 

Dimensions: Length, 25 m. Diameter (at the main 
frame), 8.15 m. 

Rudder .—Three pads. Attachment of • ropes similar to 
that of L. The air enters through a deflating sleeve on the 
lower pad. Deflation is made by means of two sleeves having 
a diameter of 0.40 m. and placed behind the upper pads. 


13 





Inlet .—In the front. 

Valve collar .—On the right side, toward the rear, about 
1.50 m. above the rigging band. 

Ripping .—Eight holes for 4 panels. 

Ballonet .—In the rear. Same characteristics as that of L. 
False valve .—On the left side, symmetrical with the valve 
collar, in a longitudinal plane. 

Wincloics. —Two, one for the balloon, one for the ballonet. 


BALLOON R. 


Dimensions: Length, 27.50 m. Diameter (at the main 
frame), 8.30 m. 

Rudder .—Three pads. Attachment of the inner ropes: 

(a) To the balloon by means of a rigging band like that 
in L. 

(&) To the pad by means of crowsfeet of elliptical form 
(figure 12), having an extension made of a piece of double 
fabric 0.32 m. by 0.25 m. (a) doubled by a piece of tent canvas 
0.20 m. by 0.16 m. (&) and a belt (e) 0.22 m. by 0.03 m. stitched 
on the double fabric, along the axis, with a rectangular 
stitching. 

(c) Two diag- 
onal cross 
seams (o'). 

The belt is 
stitched with 
a seam of 0.16 
m. on both 
sides of a cen¬ 
tral hook if) 
which is 0.03 
m. high and 
through which 
the thread 
passes. The 
end of the hook 
is fastened by 
means of a 
seam in which 
saddler’s stitch 
is used (c'). 

The crows¬ 
feet are glued 
in three layers. Figure 12 . 

the belt sliding transversely on the middle seam of the panels 
(& b'). The air enters through a deflating sleeve on the lower 
pad. Deflation is made by means of two sleeves, which have 
a diameter of 0.40 m. 

Inlet .—In the front (in the rear in certain balloons con¬ 
structed at first). 



14 



























Valve collar .—In the front. 

Rwping .—Eight openings for 4 panels. 

Ballonet .—In the lower fore part of the balloon extending 
about % of its length. Attachment of the automatic control 
by means of a collar identical with that of the false valve. 
The air enters through a deflating sleeve situated in the fore 
part of the balloon and through an orifice communicating with 
and balancing with the inner pad. The deflating sleeve and 
the ballonet are provided with two small drainage orifices for 
the purpose of draining off the rain water. The outer sur¬ 
face of the ballonet does not touch the inner surface of the 
envelope, consequently there is constantly a space through 
which the air can easily enter. 

False valve .—In the rear. 

Window .—Only one window for the balloon, the ballonet 
is inspected through the deflating sleeve. 

BALLOONS P and P2. 

0 

Dimensions: Length, 25 m. Diameter (at the main 

frame), 7.45 m. and for P-, 8.05 m. ^ 

Rudder .—Similar to that of R. The sleeve through which 
the air enters is provided with a small drainage orifice for 
draining off the sea water. 

Inlet .—On the left side in the last panel held by the rig¬ 
ging band and a little below the latter. A sleeve 15 m. in 
length and 0.15 m. in diameter, allowing it to float again on 
the water, is placed in the fore part. It is raised and attached 
to the bottom of the balloon by means of three cords which 
enter into two thimbles and a bull’s-eye. The thimbles are 
fastened by means of fasteners similar to the safety cross 
bracing of the valve command and the bull’s-eye is fastened by 
means of a “splay.” The neck of the bull’s-eye is inserted in 
a grommet, the free ends of which are heckled and the fibres 
of which are methodically spread out and glued between two 
disks, stitched together by means of a circular seam and 
several cross seams. 

Valve collar .—In the fore part (replaced in certain bal¬ 
loons by a collar similar to that used in spherical balloons 
and which is to receive a wooden valve of a new model). 

Ripping .—Six openings for three panels, the two upper 
ones and one at the right side. 

• Ballonet .—Similar to that of R. The air enters, in cer¬ 
tain models, through two deflating sleeves, placed close to¬ 
gether and separated by a space of 0.20 m., in which the 
raised reinflation sleeve is located. 

False valve .—In the rear. 

Window .—Only one as in R. 

15 


BALLOONS USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES. 


Balloons which are not provided with network, sleeves, 
window or ripping. 

BALLOON N. 

Dimensions: Length, 15 m. Diameter (at the main 

frame), 4.80 m. 

Rudder .—Similar to that of R, but without a deflating 
sleeve. The air enters through an oriflce communicating with 
the hallonet. 

Rigging hand .—Similar to that of the other types, hut 
simpler (only one thickness of double fabric). 

Inlet .—On the left side, toward the rear, below the rigging 
band. 

Valve collar .—In the fore part. 

Ballonet .—Two ballonets; one in the fore part, similar to 
that of R, communicating with the lower pad of the rudder. 
The other in the rear, hemispherical, communicating at the 
bottom with the lower pad of the rudder and at the top with 
the upper pads. • 

False valve .—Attached to the rear of the ballonet. 

BALLOON S. 

Dimensions: Length, 8.50 m. Diameter (at the main 
frame), 3.65 m. 

Rudder .—Similar to that of R. 

Rigging hand .—Replaced by 6 coupling bands, 3 on each 
side, glued in 3 layers. 

Inlet .—In the forepart, slightly staggered on the right of 
the valve collar. 

Valve collar .—In the front. 

Ballonet .—Similar to that of R, but on the outside of the 
balloon. The valve control is consequently placed in the 
envelope of the balloon, to which it is attached by means of 
a fastening (figure 12), for the purpose of reducing the weight, 
the seams are not airtight. 

False valve.—In the rear. The collar is replaced by a 
crowsfoot (figure 12). 


BALLOON T. 

Dimensions: Length, 17 m. Diameter (at the frame), 
6.34 m. Same characteristics as balloon N. 

TYPES G AND H. 

Types of German origin (figure 13). 

They have the form of an elongated cylinder terminated 
by two hemispheres. The form is kept invariable by means 


16 


of a ballonet inflated with air (A). The excessive pressure 
is prevented by the action of a valve (S) opened automatically 
. by the movements of the diaphragm. The balloon is turned 
in the direction of the wind: 

1. By the rudder inflated with air (a). 

2. By the tail made of little cup-shaped plates strung on 

a rope (b). • 

The angle of slope of the balloon in the wind is diminished 
by the action of the two ailerons (c), located in the rear at 
the height of the rigging band and held by adjustable ropes. 

Rudder .—A pneumatic pad situated in the rear part of the 
balloon. The ropes are on the outside and are fastened to 
toggles held in place by two curved bands (d). '-The air enters 
through a funnel (e). The excess air escapes through a tube 
placed in the upper part (/). 



Suspension rigging 'band.—Bagging down net.—Valve 

collar. _Similar to the same parts of the French elongated 

balloons. 

Inlet .—Fitted in the same way as in the French balloons, 
but situated under the bottom of 'the balloon towards the 
middle (g). 

Sleeves (in the type H).—Two, one to control the 
ripping, the other for the hand control, of the valve. 

'Windows (in the type H).—Three, two for the balloon, 1 
in the fore part, 1 in the middle, 1 for the ballonet. 


17 













Ripping (iu the type H).—Similar to the ripping of the 
French balloons, but without the arrangement of elliptical 
openings on the outside (except in the last models constructed 
in France). 

BaUonet. —In the rear. The ropes ap fastened at three 
points in the same horizontal plane. It is inflated by means 
of a deflating sleeve. Oriflce of communication is on a level 
with the rudder. It can be inspected through a “manhole,' 
open on the side. 

BALLOONS WITH AN EXPANDING ENVELOPE. 

Certain models of elongated balloons, of small and medium 
volumetric capacity, which do not carry personnel and are 
used for special purposes, have neither ballonet nor automatic 
valve. The shape is maintained by the overpressure which the 
gas acquires with the altitude. Excess of pressure is pre¬ 
vented by an automatic increase of volume made by means 
of expanding folds with an elastic return. This arrangement, 
adapted in various forms on the different types of balloons 
described above, consists of eight light rigging bands, which 
are provided with eyelets, through which the elastic bands 
pass. These bands yield to a certain strain which qpens the 
fold and brings the balloon back again to its original volume 
by closing the fold as soon as this strain is released and the 
pressure decreases (flgure 14). These rigging bands are made 
of one thickness of double fabric glued in 2 layers and sewed 
by two seams airtight on both sides and which is redoubled 
on itself in the place where the eyelets are made. 



Fold Open. Details of a Fold. 

Figure 14. 

FABRICS USED. 


The fabrics used at the present time for the construction 
of military balloons are rubberized cotton fabric and calico. 
Strapping is used for the bagging down net. 

Calico. —Calico, a very strong cotton fabric, is used only 
in the construction of balloons which are to make free ascen¬ 
sions. It is varnished in order to insure tightness, which it 
does not have (see Par.t II). 

Rubberized fabric. —In the rubberized fabric, used at the 
present time only in the construction of captive balloons, the 


18 







resistance is insured by the fabric and the tightness is in¬ 
sured by a very thin layer of rubber. 

Use. —Rubberized fabric is used single-ply or double-ply. 
Single-ply for the construction of the rudders and to insure the 
tightness of the seams (in the form of bands or edgings). 
Double-ply is used for the construction of the ballonet and of 
the envelope which contains the gas and resists the force of 
the wind and supports the weight of the basket. 

Diagonal fabric. —The double-ply rubberized fabric is made 
of two pieces of one-ply fabric, joined with the rubberized sides 
together and coated with rubber on the inside or outside, 
according to the different fabrics. The fabrics are joined along 
the straight thread or the diagonal thread, depending on the 
threads of the respective fabrics, whether they are parallel 
or placed at an angle of 45°. 

Only diagonal fabrics are used at the present time. The 
diagonal to the right is to be distinguished from the diagonal 
to the left. The direction of the diagonal is to be distinguished 
like the threads of a screw. The fabric is placed with the dyed 
surface up. If you look at it endwise, that is to say, along 
the longitudinal threads (the warp), the diagonal is to the 
right if the diagonal thread goes to the right, to the left if 
the thread goes to the left. The materials have changed a 
great deal in the last years in firmness and lightness and 
greater precautions are being made to insure tightness and 
to protect the fabrics against the different effects of the atmos¬ 
phere. Consequently, there are several kinds of double-ply 
fabric of the same nature, but with different characteristics, 
which are expressed by a reference number. In the construc¬ 
tion, the different reference numbers are distributed rationally 
according to the different parts of the balloon {see Part II). 

Strapping. —Strapping is a hempen or flaxen fabric having 
a particularly great power of resistance and is made in narrow 
bands {see Part II). The band is manufactured in cordage 
works. 


19 


V 


CHAPTER II. 

MAINTENANCE OF BALLOONS. 

I. General Principles. 

In order to keep the balloon in good condition, constant 
precautions must be taken for the purpose of protecting the 
fabric as far as possible: 

(a) From rubbing against uneven surfaces. 

(b) From different atmospheric conditions injurious 
either to the fabric or to the coating of rubber: 

Frost. —Injurious to the rubber and to the fabric, when it 
is damp. 

Heat. —Injurious to the rubber. 

The rays of the sun. —Injurious to the rubber. 

Humidity. —Good for the rubber, but injurious to the fab¬ 
rics as soon as it exceeds a certain degree and lasts a long 
time. 


II. Maintenance of the balloon in the field. 

As the balloon-packer on guard, the cutter specialist acts 
as the technical inspector of the condition of the balloon. In 
this capacity it is his duty to notify the commissioned officer 
of the guard as soon as the conditions of the field seem to be 
bad and to advise him what measures he should take. 

(a) It is his special duty to see that: 

(1) No part of the balloon, however small, is in the sun. 
The whole of the balloon should rest on the tarpaulin. 

(2) That the tarpaulin itself is perfectly clean and free 
from all foreign substances (stones, branches). In order to 
do this it is necessary to see that the same surface is always 
turned toward the ground and that no one treads on the 
surface, in contact with the balloon, without canvas shoes W'ith 
clean soles. 

(3) The ballast sacks should not rub against the fabric 
as a result of defective hooking, nor rest on the part of the 
balloon which is folded up when the balloon is inflated. The 
hooks should always be fastened with the points turning 
outward. 

(&) In the field it is impossible to withdraw the balloon 
from the influences of the atmosphere. The best that can be 
done is to lessen the effects of these influences, according to 
the balloon bed, that can be secured. But very great precau¬ 
tions must be taken to prevent the serious damage which the. 
frost can cause in the fabric. The importance of these precau¬ 
tions varies in different cases: If the thermometer has gone 
down below 7°, no maneuver ivhatever should be engaged in. 
because below this temperature the cold affects the coating of 

20 


rubber and makes it brittle. If the balloon was damp at the 
time the frost affected it, no maneuver whatever should be 
engaged in, however low the temperature. If the balloon was 
perfectly dry before the frost and if the temperature remains 
above 7°, the fabric may be manipulated in a normal way, 
if precautions are observed, for the dryness is never perfect 
or uniform. 

The cutter on guard should also constantly watch the 
condition of the fabric in regard to tightness and strength. 
He must pay special attention to the rigging band around 
the openings for the toggles. He must watch that they are 
not enlarged in such a way as to permit a lateral sliding of 
the toggle, which wmuld endanger the firmness of the rigging, 
both as far as the fabric and the toggle itself are concerned. 
In a more general w^ay he should watch the tightness of the 
fabric, which can be seriously endangered by the decomposition 
of the coating of rubber. This decomposition is revealed by* 
certain exterior signs; By resiniflcation, which can be rec¬ 
ognized by the touch (the fabric becomes stiff and like parch¬ 
ment) and by the odor (an odor sui generis, slightly acid, 
difficult to define and wffiich can be- recognized only by prac¬ 
tice). The resiniflcation can often compromise the very 
strength of the fabric. It becomes greasy. This is manifested 
by the appearance of dark spots similar to oil stains and the 
diagonal pieces of fabric are loosened. 

When the fabric is badly wmrn, it may also be as well to 
note the excessive thickness, sometimes important, which is 
made on the outside where the thread enters the fabric and 
glue a patch of fabric over it. In fact, in actual usage, the 
coating of rubber is pierced on a le\el wuth these places of 
excessive thickness. 

III. Maintenance of the packed balloon. 

(a) 'The balloon should not be packed in its bag unless it 
is provided with its cotton case. 

(b) It should never be packed when moist, or, if it had 
to be packed through force of circumstances, the first opportu¬ 
nity for conveniently drying and airing it should be seized. 

The packed balloon should be kept, as much as possible, 
in a dry, dark and cool place. 

Wlien it is freezing, it should not be manipulated unless 
the greatest precautions are taken and, except in the case of 
absolute necessity, it must not be manipulated in any way 
w’hatever when the thermometer goes below 7®, not even 
transported by wagon or by rail. 

IV. Balloon inspection. 

Balloons are inspected for the purpose of finding out their 
general state of preservation. Look for any small defects 
which they may have. 

The inspection, which is made quarterly for the balloons 
in storage, is made for the balloons in the service before in- 

21 


flating them and, as a general rule, before using them and 
just before packing them. This last inspection is difficult to 
make in practice when the balloon cannot be inflated in thb 
air and it cannot be subjected to the necessary airing. 

In the storing depots the balloon is inflated with air but, 
in the field, the balloon is entered, simply spread out on its 
tarpaulins and it is raised gradually as the inspector passes 
on to look through the fabric. The squad which inspects the 
exterior guides him. 

The inspection is divided into two parts: 

1. The inspection of the exterior. —This is quickly made 
and the object of this inspection is to find important defects 
and to repair them immediately. 

2. The inspection of the interior. —More minute. To make 
this inspection the inspection personnel is divided into two 
squads, one of which enters the balloon, while the other fol¬ 
lows it on the outside, guides it, helps it and verifies the parts 
pointed out as doubtful and takes note of the repairs which 
are to be made. 

The --quad which is -to inspect the interior of the balloon 
makes sure: 

(a) That the envelope is in good general condition by 
methodically examining the panels. It points out all the holes, 
all the defects, all the places that show wear and tear and all 
the weak spots that it discovers to the squad which is to 
inspect the exterior of the balloon (it is to be noted that in 
balloons recently constructed, in which the fabric used is 
colored by means of a dj^ed coating of rubber, the slightest 
superficial scratch makes a very transparent place without 
seriously compromising the tightness). 

(b) That the ripping panel is in good condition, that it 
is firm, that the ripping cords which control the ripping panel 
are fastened in a convenient way. These cords should not be 
very numerous. Normally, 6 or 8, passing twice through 
eyelets. 

(c) That the hand controls of the ripping and the valve 
are conveniently arranged. These controls should not have 
any twists which would form knots while being pulled through 
and Vv’ould prevent them from entering the sleeves. 


22 


/ 


CHAPTER III. 

BALLOON REPAIRS. 

The cutter specialist must always be able to repair any 
parts of the balloon which deteriorate either through use or 
through action of exterior causes and to execute correctly the 
urgent repairs which can be made without the materiel kept 
only in the parks and establishments of the interior. All re¬ 
pairs are made by sewing and by gluing. 

I. Gluing. 

The glue used is rubber glue, specially made of pure para, 
not vulcanized, dissolved in gasoline. It should be correctly 
used in order to get the great power of adherence of which 
it is capable. 

The essential principle is to wait until the glue is dry 
enough before placing the pieces together. The proper degree 
of dryness can be determined by placing the hand on the glue. 
If the hand must rest for a rather long time on the glue to 
adhere to it and if it does not give a strong impression of 
freshness, which is caused by the rapid evaporation of the 
gasoline, then it is dry enough. Moreover, the evaporation can 
be hastened by rapid ventilation. Generally the gluing is 
done “in several layers” 2 or 3. As a general rule 2 for the 
parts which are stitched together, 3 for the parts which are 
only glued. 

The object of the bottom layers is to form a foundation of 
glue, which is of such a nature that it permits the glue to 
penetrate it deeply and to form a perfectly homogeneous mix¬ 
ture, which gives the maximum adhesion. Therefore, it is 
indispensaMe to allow the bottom layers to dry perfectly be¬ 
fore putting on the layer of glue proper, which is then put on 
by the method indicated below. To neglect to take this pre¬ 
caution would he equal to gluing with a single layer of glue. 
It is now important always to keep the fabric well stretched, 
but not too much. 

In order to glue the gluing band of one-ply fabric (ordi¬ 
narily called the “edging”) which is placed on the seams to 
make them tight, it is well to roll it on a wooden roller about 
25 cm. long, allowing room to giiide it and preventing “mis¬ 
takes,” which are always bad, particularly in fabrics rubber¬ 
ized on the outside. The fabric should not be stretched too 
much when it is being glued. Particular care should be taken 
not to stretch the bands which cover the belt of the bagging 
down net, for, if the lower piece of fabric is lengthened, as a 
result of the work, the glue might be loosened and the band 
torn. 

The “chien,” which is to take up the excessive drops of 
glue around the part which has just been glued, should be 


23 


used judiciously, according to the fabrics which are used. Its 
use must be absolutely forbidden on rubberized surfaces and 
one must consequently be sure that the exterior has not been 
dyed by means of a coating of rubber, which is nowadays fre¬ 
quently the case. After gluing it is always well to cover it 
with talcum powder, especially if the glued part is exposed 
to friction against other parts of the fabric. 

II. Stitching. 

Stitching by hand, the only kind that can be used in 
the field, necessitates a correctness of execution which can be 
obtained only with patience and infinite care and a regularity 
which comes from great practice, allowing the eye to regulate 
the intervals between the stitches. 

Correct position. —The needle between the thumb and the 
index finger, held as near the point as possible, the head of 
the needle against the thimble, which is placed on the middle 
finger of the right hand. 

The fabric held in the left hand, between the index and 
the thumb, the nail of which should be as near as possible 
to the eye of the needle, to help it to pass through with a 
slight pressure. 

Three kinds of stitches are generally used for this work: 
Baseball stitch, backstitch, saddler’s stitch. Moreover, when 
two pieces of fabric have already been joined together, they 
are stitched with a very simple and well-known stitch, the 
running stitch (figure 15). 

—-^'1 The baseball stitch. 
I —The baseball stitch 
1 is used to repair a tear 
J by bringing together 
the two torn edges. 
The stitching is done from 
left to right, that is to say, 
away from the hand in which 
the work is held. To begin 
the seam pass the needle be¬ 
tween the two edges of the 
tear and bring it out beyond 
the tear, about 2 mm. from 
the edge of the same (figure 
16). 

Pass the needle again be¬ 
tween the two edges of the 
tear and sew over from above and bring the needle through 
at the distance of about 2 mm. and slightly in front of the first 
stitch. Pass the needle again between the two edges of the 
tear and sew under from below and bring the needle through 
at the distance of about 2 mm. and opposite the second stitch. 
These three stitches together form a kind of star and form 



24 







the beginning of the seam. The seam is continued in the 
same way, by sewing over and under, to the right and to the 
left, but in such a way that the stitches to the left correspond 
to half an interval of those made to the right. The seam is 
finished by a repetition of the star by which it is begun and 
thus, when it has been finished, it seems to have neither 
beginning nor end. When the seam is well done, the stitches 
are very even. The edges of the tear fit perfectly and there 
is not a fold or wTinkle in the fabric. 

In an unever tear, with curves or angles, the repairs are 
made in the same way as in the case of a straight tear, but 
following the outline of the tear. 

Backstitch .—This stitch is used to join two pieces of 
fabric which are stitched together, one above the other. The 
stitching is done from right to left, after taking the precau¬ 
tion of tracing the seam with chalk, in order to place all the 


stitches exactly in line. 
Stick the needle through 
on the guiding line at 
(o) (figure 26). Bring 
it through 4 mm. in 
front of the first hole 
through which the 
needle was brought on 



the guiding line at (&). Stick the needle down between (a) 
and (ft), 2 or 3 mm. from (&) at (c). Thus the first stitch is 
made. Stick the needle through at a distance of 4 or 6 mm. at 
(d). Pass it again through (&) (in the same hole, but in the 
opposite direction) and so forth. When the seam is finished, 
the threads are cut at the nap of the fabric. To join the ends 
of the threads in such a way that the darn may be invisible, the 
three or four last stitches are gone over with the new thread so 
that they overlap. A good seam should have stitches perfectly 
in line, at regular intervals and from 2 to 3 mm. in length. 

Saddler's stitch ,.-—The saddler’s stitch is used in the con¬ 
struction of balloons only for stitching pieces which are made 
of strapping. It should preferably be done by a harness- 
maker, who is a specialist in making this stitch. Special 
materiel is used in making this stitch. A round awl, for the 
belt, two saddler’s needles, waxed linen thread (the two 
needles are placed at the two ends of the same thread. The 
free end which comes through the eye of the needle is passed 
again through the thread, which is unraveled). If the stitches 
are not done by experts, a guiding line should be traced. The 
thickness of fabric through which the thread is to pass should 
be pierced by means of an awl (figure 27). One of the 
needles should be passed through the hole and half the 
length of the thread should be pulled through and, as a con¬ 
sequence, there will be an equal length of thread on both 
sides of the fabric attached to the needle. The fabric 
should be pierced at a proper distance along the guiding 
line. The two needles should be passed through the hole in 


25 








opposite directions from each 
other. 

The thread should be fast¬ 
ened and so forth. The seam 
should be finished by going 
over the last two stitches with 
the ends of the thread, which 
is then cut at the nap of the 
fabric. 

Threads. —There are four 

kinds of thread used in bal- - - > 

loon repairs: ' y/ 

1. Silk thread, ordinarily y/ 

used, in spite of the fact that / 

it is very expensive, because i 

it is very strong. It is used 
for all balloons except “calico” 

balloons.’ Figure 18. 

2. Scotch thread, which is now used instead of the thread 
from Brittany. We have not been able to obtain the latter 
since the w^ar began. It is a larger and stronger linen thread, 
used only for darning by hand. 

3. Cotton thread, used only to make repairs in “calico” 
balloons (except the stars and collars, which are sewn with 
silk). 

4. Linen thread, used to join the strapping. 

Needles. —The needles ordinarily used are steel needles 
0.025 m. in length and 0.006 m. in diameter. They are num¬ 
ber 7 (short), of English make. We indicate the numbers of 
the different kinds, calling attention, however, to the fact 
that the assortment found at the present time on the market 
does not always conform to the following specifications: 


Numbers. Length. Diameter. 

6 long. 0.0388 ' 0.0007 

6 short. 0.0278 0.0007 

5 long... 0.032 0.0007 

5 short. 0.029 0.0008 


Eyelets. —The cutter often has to sew on eyelets. The 
eyelet is inserted in a hole made by a puncher, then fastened 
by machine. 

Numbers. Diameter. Principal uses. 


309.. 0.004 Rigging band (lacing the toggles). 

12. 0.007 For the drainage orifices of the ripping 

panel and of the upper pads of the 
rudder. Fastening with an eyelet 
of the ripping panel. 

15. 0.010 For the orifice through which the air 

escapes when the balloon collapses 
(at the end of the lower pad and of 
< the toggles). Sacks of B. C. A, 












Principal repairs to rubberized fabric. —The important re¬ 
pairs are made in the parks and establishments of the in¬ 
terior, which generally have a personnel well trained and 
skilled in construction and materiel for the construction itself 
and, for this reason, perfect repairs can very easily be made 
in these places. Most of the time only temporary repairs 
can be made in the field. These repairs are, otherwise, per¬ 
fectly well made and strong. 

Two cases are 'to be considered: 

(o) The damage to be repaired had been found while an 
inspection was being made before the balloon was infiated and 
the balloon was not inflated. 

(b) The damage had been done in service and the bal¬ 
loon should continue to be infiated. 

A. The balloon which is not inflated. 

The principal repairs to be made are: A hole, a tear, a 
piece placed on the envelope, a whole panel which is to be 
replaced. 

1. Hole with a small diameter. —A patch of double rubber¬ 
ized fabric, having a diameter much larger than the hole, is 
glued over the hole. In doing this the rules for gluing given 
above are carefully observed. When it is possible to inflate 
the balloon with air, it is better to glue the patch on the 
inside. 

2. Tear. —The edges of the tear are brought together by 
means of a baseball stitch. The seam is made tight (on both 
sides, if it has been possible to inflate it with air). The 
tear is covered by a double piece of fabric, having a larger 
surface than that of the tear. This piece of fabric is to be 
circular or rectangular in shape as the case requires. If the 
latter shape is used, the corners should be rounded. An edge 
of one-ply fabric is placed around the piece of fabric for the 
purpose of making it airtight and of preventing further 
tearing by lateral friction. 

3. Different pieces put on the envelope. —As for these 
pieces, the detailed description given above suffices to indicate 
the way in which they should be put on in order to repair 
the envelope, if it is damaged, or to replace it, if it is useless. 

In putting on a ripping panel, a simple but long and 
very delicate operation, the principal difficulty arises from 
the precautions which are to be taken against “the slack” re¬ 
sulting from an insufficient or irregular tension, which can 
cause the ripping panel to operate under bad or dangerous 
conditions. 

In making common repairs guiding lines are traced on the 
ripping panel and care is taken, in mounting them, to make 
the patches exactly coincide with the tracings. 

Note. —It is best to find the tracings made on the envelope 
when it was being constructed (they wull be found at the inter¬ 
sections of the seams) and to make the tracings of the gore on 
them as a basis. 




Of course, this operation can be made only in a balloon in¬ 
flated with air. It is generally done in establishments of the 
interior and it is not wise to do this in the field except in 
case of absolute necessity. The work is done according to 
the following principles: A fabric of the same diagonal as 
that of the panel to be replaced is to be chosen. The bands, 
put on to insure tightness on both sides, are to be unglued a 
little beyond the edge of the panel which is to be replaced. 
The damaged panel is to be ripped carefully and a stitch at 
a time, in order to avoid damaging the overlapping of the 
panels n^xt to it. The new panel is to be traced either on 
the damaged panel, using the latter as a pattern and reduc¬ 
ing the dimensions from 0.005 m. to 0.01 m. per meter, if the 
fabric has been badly worn, or using the dimensions of the 
pattern, leaving an edge of not more than 0.008 meters for 
overlappings. The fabric should be moderately stretched 
vvhile the panel is being mounted and glued in place in order 
to avoid the “slack” which might result from stretching the 
fabric of the panels next to it. It should be stitched with two 
rows of stitching 0.003 m. from the edge and 0.009 m. apart, 
airtight on both sides. It should be made airtight. It should 
be covered with talcum. 

B. The inflated balloon. 

When the balloon is inflated and in service the principal 
repairs to be made in the envelope itself can be made only 
by gluing, as stitching is almost always impossible. Moreover, 
these repairs should be made quickly in order to prevent 
the escape of gas. The only repairs which can be made are 
mending the tears and repairs made in the rigging band. 

Repairing the rigging hand. —When a bad or exaggerated 
movement of the rigging on the toggles has enlarged and 
stretched the fabric of the rigging band it is immediately re¬ 
enforced by a piece of double fabric which is glued on the 
edge. This piece of double fabric is rectangular, its corners 
are rounded and an opening of normal size is made in it. This 
piece should cover 0.05 m. on both sides of the edge and 0.05 
m. on both sides of the damaged opening. It should be care¬ 
fully glued with 3 layers of glue. 

Holes and tears. —Holes are repaired by gluing a patch 
on the outside. To repair the tears the edges of the tear are 
joined as quickly as possible in order to prevent the gas from 
escaping. This is done either by joining the edges carefully 
over a piece of double-ply fabric which has a coating of glue 
and a surface area larger than that of the tear, or by gluing 
bands of single-ply fabric perpendicularly over the tear. Then 
a second piece of double-ply fabric, with a larger surface and 
circular or triangular in shape, with rounded corners, accord¬ 
ing to the shape of the tear, is glued with three layers of glue 
over the hole. The hole is edged with a band of single-ply 
fabric which is to insure tightness and to avoid further tear¬ 
ing through lateral friction. The principle to be followed, in 


28 


selecting the fabric for all these repairs, is to choose a fabric 
of the same diagonal as that of the panel whidh is to be re¬ 
paired. ' 


C. Varnished fabric. 


Holes and tears .—Holes are repaired by means of small 
patches of varnished fabric stitched and then varnished. The 
patch should be placed in such a way that the direction of 
the threads are the same as in the fabric which is being re¬ 
paired. The patch should be well stretched in order to avoid 
the “slack.” It should be stitched 2 mm. from the edge of 
the patch. It should be covered again on the outside with a 
coating of varnish. In repairing tears the method of proced¬ 
ure is similar to that described for repairing balloons of rub¬ 
berized fabric before they are inflated (a baseball stitch 
‘ covered over again with a piece of varnished fabric, stitched 

with two seams, then varnished). 

* 

Putting in a gore .—The name “gore” (pointe) is given to 
the piece of fabric between two points of a crown of net (near 
the valve, or the neck of the balloon). Carefully rip and un¬ 
glue the gore, taking care not to stretch the points of the 
crown of the net on which the gore is placed. Trace the new 
gore on the fabric, using the old one as a pattern. Baste with 
a running seam, stretching the fabric without pulling the 
crown of the net. Sew with a backstitch. Varnish. 




n 






Putting in a panel or gore .—The method of procedure is 
the same as that used for a panel of rubberized fabric, but 
an edge of 0.01 m. is left for the hook. 

The joining seams of balloons 
of varnished fabric give the 
effect of an arrangement called 
— the “plain fell seam,” which con¬ 
sists of two tucks of 0.014 m. 
joined end to end under the 

rigrure 19. . , 

seam. W>e give as an example 
the hooked seam of the stationary observation balloon. 










29 













CHAPTER IV. 

PARACHUTES. 

I. Description. 

The parachute has the form of a round cap. It is com¬ 
posed of gores joined by a plain fell seam held by two rows 
of stitching. The fell seam is 0.015 m. wide and the rows of 
stitching are 0.009 m. apart and have from 3 to 4 stitches per 
centimeter. On the inside, between the seams, cords are 
drawn. These cords form the armature of the parachute and 
the points of attachment for the suspension cords (figure 20). 

The gores themselves 
are made of panels 
joined by plain fell 
seams. In the top of 

_the cap an orifice is 

made. This orifice is 
circular and 0.50 m. in 
diameter and is made 
Figure 20. to allow the air to es* 

cape during the descent. It is edged with a strap of rope (a) 
inserted through a washer of double-ply silk doubled again 
(&), which is reenforced by a washer of rubberized double- 
ply fabric (c). The whole of this apparatus is fastened on 
top of the parachute by means of three concentric rows of 
stitching (figure 30). On a level with the transversal seam, 
which joins the last and the next to the last panel from the 
bottom, a linen band 0.015 to 0.020 m. wide serves to reenforce 
the parachute all around and to prevent tearing when the 
parachute is opened. Eyelets, which serve as sockets for the 
interior ropes and the suspension cords of the pad, are placed 
at the ends of all the seams, which join the gores all around 
the edge of the circumference. A cord inserted in the edge, 
for the purpose of limiting the circular extension of the fabric, 
is fastened on the level of each eyelet by means of a button¬ 
hole stitch, thus dividing the stress on the circumference be¬ 
tween the two eyelets. A hem 2.60 m. by 0.09 m., sewn along 
the edge, contains the inner tube. The function of this inner 
tube is to insure a quick and certain opening of the parachute. 
It is sewn at one end by a tongue-shaped piece of double-ply 
fabric doubled again and stitched and having three snappers, 
which surround the infiation valve. When at rest the para¬ 
chute is encased in a truncated envelope of rubberized fabric 
(a), the bases of which are composed of circular blocks of 
three-ply wood (the method of folding^eferred to in the 
special notei is strictly followed). The upper block (&), small 
base, is perforated along two perpendicular diameters with 
four perforations, through which the suspension cords (c) 
pass. The lower block (d), the large base, has two grooves 

iPlan of the note about the observation parachute (Meudon, July, 1917). 


30 











of 0.012 m., one at the very edge (e), serving as a bed for the 
bands which fasten the fabric to the block and the other 
if), rounded, in which the elastic system of attaching the 
cover is enclosed. The body proper of the envelope ends at 
the circumference of the large base in a pad (g), made by 
means of a cord passed through the border. It has a circular 
support (;■), made of special three-ply fabric like that used 



for the face of deflating sleeves. The upper attached cap is 
composed of a cylindrical body (h), higher than the wooden 
block, notched toward the bottom and a base (i) composed of 
a disk notched around the edges and the notches of which 
are glued on the inner surface of the cylindrical body. The 
whole contrivance is fitted tightly around the block of wood 
and glued on the body of the envelope in such a way that the 
notches at the bottom of the cylindrical part cause a slight 
I pressure under the block in order that the latter may be 
crimped in the fabric. Four perforations corresponding to 

^ the perfora- 

tions of the 
block of wood 
are made in 
the wall. The 
lower m o V - 
able cap or 
“beret” has a 
large pad on 
the circum¬ 
ference of its 
base. This 
pad has the 
spiral spring 
which consti- 
tutes the 
elastic joint. 
The pad is 
made from a 
washer which 
is notched on 
the inside 
along about 
one-third o f 
its width. It 
is glued and 
sewn on the 
circumference 
of the cap, 




































which also is notched. The spring is inserted in the washer, 
which is doubled over it again in such a way as to give it a 
little freedom of movement. It is hemmed with a row of stitch¬ 
ing. Two bands, crossed in the top of the cap, are attached 
along the two perpendicular diameters, in the border, around 
which they are doubled again. 

They are fastened by means of a rectangular row of 
stitching, two diagonal crossed rows of stitching and two 
eyelets. An eyelet is made in them at the center of the cross 
bracing and opposite another eyelet, which pierces the top of 
the cap and, like the latter, permits the cord of the parachute 
to pass through. 

The safety belt described in detail in the special note is 
made of strapping joined with a saddler’s stitch, of elastic 
bands and of leather. 


II. Fabrics Used. 

The parachute is made of two kinds of silk fabric. Each 
gore contains two panels of French silk (one at each end), 
four panels of Japanese silk. The car is made of three-ply 
rubberized fabric. The attachment straps, fastened to the cap, 
are made of tubular strapping of specially great strength. 
The safety belt is made of hempen belting 0.053 m. wide. 

III. Maintenance. 

The principal precaution to be taken in caring for the* 
parachute is to be sure to protect it against moisture. In fact, 
moisture takes away all the ripping resistance of the fabric. 
Therefore, frequent and careful inspections must be made, in 
a dry place and on a dry tarpaulin, there must not be the 
slightest trace of humidity. It is essential to see that the bag 
is airtight and to repair it carefully as soon as it seems to be 
damaged or worn. 


IV. Repairs. 

The repairs of a parachute are extremely delicate, because 
the apparatus itself is so delicate. The vital importance of 
the operation of the parachute seems to demand that the re¬ 
pairs be made absolutely correctly and as, in most cases, 
a special set of tools, in the hands of experts, are necessary 
to do this, one must make it a rule to forbid, as a general rule, 
making any repairs to the parachute itself on the spot, but 
to send it to the establishments of the interior when it is 
damaged. Repairs should be made on the spot only in case of 
absolute necessity and they should be entrusted only to a 
specially careful and skilled cutter. The detailed description 
of fitting the parts together, which are given above, suffices 
to indicate the rules and precautions which are to be observed 
in this case. 


32 


CHAPTER V. 

I. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIEL. 

We shall discuss only the materiel used at the present-time 
for elongated captive balloons. The balloon is packed in a 
“casing” of cretonne 4.50 ni. by 4.50 m. and a very strong 
“sack” of heavy hempen or linen cloth 1.75 m. by 1.40 m. by 
0.60 m., called the “sack for the elongated captive balloon.” 
The sack is closed by means of pieces of fabric, turned in and 
on the edges of which eyelets are made for lacing. These eye¬ 
lets are No. 15. A strap (of the type of the bagging down net), 
on which 10 handles are sewn, using the saddler’s stitch, 3 on 
each side and 2 at each end, forms a belt around the circum¬ 
ference of the sack about half way up and serves as a handle. 
The seams are made with Scotch linen thread (on the sacks 
formerly used there were only 6 handles, 3 on each side, 
formed by a cotton tape run through leather washers, forming 
eyelets). 


II. Materiel Used for Inflation. 




It includes: 

Inflating -canvas .—Of hemp, 14 m. by 14 m. 

Inflating sleeves- —0.28 m. in diameter, of double-ply rub¬ 
berized fabric, with special straight thread. They are made in 
three different lengths, 5, 10 and 20 m. The sleeves are turned 
inside out and are sewn with two rows of stitching. The 
first row of stitching joins the two edges, allowing the 
lower piece of fabric to project several meters beyond the 
upper. The first 
seam is about 0.012 
m. from the edge 
of the latter. Then 
a hem of 0.01 m. 
is made and the 
hem is sewn by 
means of a row of 
stitching on the 
edge previously 
left (figure 32). 

The inlet. 

Figure 23. through which the 
balloon can be infiated simul¬ 
taneously, with two gas sup¬ 
plies, is made by joining the 
two parts of the sleeve to the 
end of a short sleeve of about 
1.10 m., in the way illustrated 
by figure 33. 

Figure 24. 





33 














III. Materiel for Use in the Field. 

Tarpaulin .—Of hempen cloth or of linen, 25 m. by 8 m. 

Ballast sacks of hempen cloth.—The bottom is sewn by 
two seams, made by the same method as that described above 
for sewing the inflating sleeves. 

Balloonist's tent, 1915 model (flgiire 84).—This tent covers 
a surface area of 5 m. by 5 m. It is made of panels of rub¬ 
berized canvas, joined with overlapping of 0.03 m., by two 
rows of stitching 0.02 m. apart. A rubberized band of strap¬ 
ping, of about 0.06 m., doubles, on the inside, the longitudinal 
rows of stitching of the roof and binds the ends. 

The tent has the following parts: 

(o) An entrance covered by entrance flaps raised up and 
fastened by means of 14 loops on the inside and on the outside 
(6 loops on the outside and 8 on the inside). 

(&) Four windows, two on the wall opposite the entrance 
and two on the sides. They are made of oiled calico. The 
frame of the entrance is edged with bands of strapping, with 
cross-pieces of narrower bands of strapping. The oiled parts 
of the side windows are movable, they are fastened at the top 
by a seam, at the bottom and on the two sides by 9 loops 
fastened on the outside. They may be raised by rolling them 
up and they are held in this position by two thongs from the 
inside and fastened on the outside. 

The tent is pitched on 12 bamboo tent poles: One central 
tent pole in two parts, joined by a metal socket, nine tent poles, 
of the smallest kind, which support the sides, two tent poles, 
which hold the entrance panels open. 

At the top of each of the tent poles is a wooden plug into 
which a round-headed screw is placed, projecting about 0.05 
m., and, at the bottom, is a four-cornered pointed piece of 
wood, which is inserted into a movable metal plate 0.15 m. by 
0.15 m., with a hole in the center. The object of this plate 
is to make the pole firmer. The tent is supported by 13 cords 
provided with adjustment runners of wood and fastened by 
means of loops with holdfasts. 

These cords are attached at the bottom of the roof: Two 
on each side of the entrance flaps, three at the middle of 
each side, eight (4 pairs) at each corner. They are fastened 
by means of a loop sewn on the fabric and the strap which 
edges the roof. A leather washer, sewn on the inside, strength¬ 
ens the place where they are joined. A second leather washer, 
sewm on the outside, covers the loop and fastens it, with its 
stitching, where the splicing begins. This washer has an eye¬ 
let, No. 15, into which is inserted the round-headed screw on 
the top of the tent poles. Around the bottom of the walls, 
about 0.25 m. from the edge, is placed a kind of belt, the upper 
edge of which is fastened by two rows of stitching. It serves 
to stretch and stiffen the walls. It has 31 eyelets, through 
w'hich pass the small cords which are attached to the anchor 


34 



\ 






/ 



35 


P’igure 25. 
Details. 


























































pegs. The eyelets are placed: Six on the surface which opens, 
seven on every other surface, one at each corner. 

The tent is folded and placed in a sack of rubberized cloth. 

The tent pegs are packed in a larger and narrower sack, 
which also holds the metallic plates and the 3 spare tent 
poles. 

Tarpaulin for the basket .—These are rectangular pieces of 
strong hempen cloth (of the type used for the inflating can¬ 
vas), which have a hem made by cutting a diagonal slit in 
the fabric at each corner and then sewing it again. The edges 
are provided with eyelets for lacing, four on each hemmed 
surface and three on each of the others. The two models in 
use are: The tarpaulin for the basket, holding two observers, 
1.35 m. by 1.35 m. The tarpaulin for the basket, holding one 
observer, 1.35 m. by 1.05 m. 

Valve cover .—The fabric valve cover is made of flve layers 
of double-ply fabric, covered again on the inside and on the 
outside with single-ply fabric. It is in the shape of a round 
cap on a low cylinder and has a hole at the top. This hole 
is about 0.03 meters in diameter (flgure 25). It is constructed 
on a wooden mold. A notched belt is joined by means of a 
washer glued on the notches. Five other concentric washers, 
each with a smaller diameter than the last, are placed side by 
side and united at the top of the cap by means of a small disk. 



A cover is placed on these washers. The cover is made of 
triangular gores placed side by side. The tops of the gores 
are joined by a disk. The cover or cap, thus prepared, is 
turned inside*out and 3 successive layers of gores, joined at 
the top by a disk, are put on the inside. The inside and out¬ 
side are covered by fabric, in gores with disks and a belt, a 
repetition of the central layers. 

Work tent for the tool truck (flgure 27).—It is a tent 
shed made of canvas. It is attached by its upper edge, which 
is provided with eyelets, to the sides and to the rear of the 


36 












1 



i{7 


■i 
































































truck, which has a wooden footboard for this purpose. On 
the footboard are round-head screws (a band of fabric, fastened 
by snap-fasteners, covers the eyelets in order to insure tight¬ 
ness). A lateral projection shelters both ends. Ten bamboo 
poles, with a plug of wood at both ends, serve to support the 
shed. At the upper end of each pole, in the plug of wood, is 
a round-head screw and at the bottom is an iron spike. The 
round-head screws are inserted in one of the three eyelets, 
fastened opposite each pad, on the fabric and used according 
to the tension. The spikes are fastened into the sides of the 
truck. 

The tent is supported by cords attached to the tent by 
means of a V-belt with a ring. These cords are attached to 
the tent pegs driven into the ground by means of loops and 
their length is adjusted by means of wooden runners. 

IV. Materiel for Making the Ascension. 

Furnishings of the basket. —The inner walls of the basket 
are covered with double-ply rubberized fabric. At breast 
height there is a pad stuffed with kapok. On the sides are one 
or two pockets for documents and for instruments. 

Basket cushion. —Of one-ply fabric, stuffed with kapok and, 
with small patches of leather, make it more comfortable. 

Carpet for the basket. —A velvet pile carpet with a border. 

Tricolor flag. —Of wool bunting or cotton fabric, 3.30 m. 
by 1.80 m. 

1 

Pennant. —Of wool bunting or red cotton fabric, about 5 m. 
by 0.25 m. The “arrow” is 0,50 m. in length and the two points 
are weighted with lead. 


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